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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 5 Hansard (9 May) . . Page.. 1287 ..
MR SMYTH (continuing):
The Community Council is asking elected members why Brendan Smyth seems to be the only politician who is concerned with the true interests of Gungahlin residents.
Mr Speaker, when the press releases of Mr Corbell and Ms Tucker hit the street, of course we spoke to the community and said, if necessary, they should clarify their position.
Members interjecting-
MR SPEAKER: Would you all like to settle down, please. I call Mr Hargreaves.
MR HARGREAVES: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I do not mind sharing the floor of this place; it has been very entertaining. Mr Speaker, my question, through you, is to the Treasurer.
Mr Smyth: Oh!
MR HARGREAVES: I note the sigh of disappointment from the minister. Heavy vehicle operators in metropolitan ACT will be excluded from the diesel fuel rebate accompanying the introduction of the federal government's iniquitous GST, while their counterparts in other areas of the ACT, in regional New South Wales and even in Hobart will benefit from the rebate. A spokesman for the Chief Minister is quoted in today's Canberra Times as saying:
We do have a reasonable relationship with the Federal Government and they know we're not afraid to stand up to them.
He was also quoted as saying:
There is no reason why they wouldn't give us what we've asked for.
Given that, can the Treasurer say how he let this dual approach to the diesel fuel rebate happen and what the implications are for transport operators in metropolitan ACT?
MR HUMPHRIES: First of all, there was not any consultation with the ACT government by the federal government before it made its decision about the diesel fuel arrangements. Most certainly, if there had been the ACT government would have put very clearly its view that the ACT should be considered a regional or rural community in the context of this particular scheme. We would also have argued, as we argued subsequent to the announcement of the decision, that if that were not to be the case, then logically the ACT and its immediate environs should be considered a metropolitan area so that it is not tempting for particular businesses to relocate within the ACT/Queanbeyan region in order to get the benefit of a particular subsidy available from the federal government.
Mr Speaker, there is some inaccuracy in what Mr Hargreaves has had to say. It is not true to say that the whole of the ACT has been excluded or classified as a metropolitan area.
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